OADI 2295 - Climate Change Policy & Diplomacy (NEW)

***UPDATED for 2021/22***

What should the world do about climate change? This is a normative question. Answering it requires an understanding of the science and impacts of climate change, of the technological options for addressing climate change, and of the economics and ethics of pursuing these options. Why does the world say that a lot must be done about climate change, but fail to do what is needed to achieve this goal? This is a positive question. Answering it requires an understanding of politics, international law, international relations, and game theory. Finally, how can the world do better? This is a question of strategy. Answering this question requires all the tools listed above, especially game theory. All three questions lie at the heart of climate policy and diplomacy. They are focus of this course.

Learning Outcomes

1. Knowledge of all the components needed to devise effective and efficient climate policy.

2. Deep understanding of climate change as a global collective action problem.

3. A strategic understanding of treaty design as a means for achieving collective action on climate change.

Professional Skills

Ability to combine disparate components to develop effective and efficient climate policy. Skills in drafting a treaty capable of bringing about real change.

Côme CHERITEL,Scott BARRETT

Séminaire

English

- In Class Presence: 2 hours a week / 24 hours a semester

- Reading and Preparation for Class: 6 hours a week / 72 hours a semester

- Research and Preparation for Group Work: 4.5 hours a week for first six classes / 27 hours a semester

- Research and Writing for Individual Assessments: 4.5 hours a week for final six classes/ 27 hours a semester

- Other: Independent research, to include additional readings, participation in seminars and events, etc. : 4.2 hours a week / 50 hours a semester

None, but microeconomics is recommended.

Spring 2021-2022

- the type of assessment: individual take-home paper, group presentation and project;

- the time-frame for each assessment during the semester, individual paper due week 7, group presentation week 12, written group treaty design due May 2nd. Individual paper and group project including presentation each worth 50% of the final average grade (minimum of two assessments).

Feedback on assignments due one week after deadline for submission in the form of written comments. Feedback on presentations will be given by faculty member and student peers at the time of the presentation.